Osaka

Osaka

Osaka Review: A city that makes us fall in love as easily as hot takoyaki with a bite of octopus!

If we had to choose a city that is cute, warm, colorful, and always filled with the aroma of food day and night… we would crown “Osaka” as our number one city in our hearts.

This city has an unpretentious charm. It’s not as big as Tokyo, not as quiet as Kyoto, but just right in its own way. Whether you come with friends, a partner, family, or even alone, Osaka makes you smile easily without any effort.

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🌟 The cuteness starts from the very first step

The moment we landed at Kansai Airport, the first feeling was “This is truly Japan!” Everything looked orderly, people smiled warmly, even the sound of the train was somehow cute. We took the train into the city and got off at Namba, which is like the heart of Osaka. Accommodations, shops, malls, restaurants—everything is gathered in this area.

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🍡 Dotonbori – The district where silence doesn’t exist

Just a few minutes’ walk from Namba Station, we arrived at Dotonbori, where the Glico Man sign waves its arms in a friendly welcome, haha. It’s very crowded but never feels cramped. Everyone is enjoying taking photos, hunting for food, and admiring the beautiful river view at night.

There are so many street food stalls it’s hard to choose. We started with hot takoyaki filled with octopus, topped with dancing bonito flakes from the heat… Oh! It was so delicious that I had to stand and eat while smiling to myself 😆

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🧁 So much food you need a spare stomach

This place is truly a paradise for food lovers! Let’s see what we tried and loved:
• Okonomiyaki: Japanese pizza with pork, squid, cabbage, and cheese, drizzled with sweet sauce and mayonnaise. It’s happiness cut into pieces!
• Kushikatsu: Deep-fried skewers dipped in sauce only once in your life (because the rule is no double-dipping!). Crispy, salty, fragrant, and incredibly satisfying.
• Japanese sweets: There are pudding shops, green tea mochi, and red bean-filled fish-shaped cakes that make you feel like you’re back in kindergarten 🥹
• Sushi: There are affordable conveyor belt sushi restaurants with such fresh quality that you want to buy sushi to bring back to Thailand for your friends.

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🎢 Universal Studios Japan (USJ) – A world of dreams

A theme park everyone must visit! We bought tickets online in advance to avoid long lines (highly recommended) because it’s really crowded here, but everyone is so nice and orderly.

Our USJ highlights were:
• Harry Potter Zone: Walking in gave us goosebumps! The music, atmosphere, the grand Hogwarts castle, and even Butterbeer to try.
• Minion Park: The cutest zone in the universe! Colorful rides and Minions everywhere. You can take photos endlessly.
• Super Nintendo World: It feels like stepping into a Mario game with sound effects, building scenes, and the adorable mushroom castle.

We recommend bringing your phone, fully charged, and downloading the USJ app because it shows ride times, queues, and a clear map.

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🏯 Osaka Castle – Classic and peaceful

After the hustle and bustle, we chose to chill at Osaka Castle, a historic site still as beautiful as a postcard. Walking inside feels like traveling back to the samurai era.

Around it is a peaceful park where people stroll, bike, and walk their dogs. If you come during autumn leaves or cherry blossom season, it’s breathtakingly beautiful 🥺🍂

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🧸 Kuromon Market – A must-visit for food lovers!

This market is adorable both in atmosphere and food! Fresh seafood, fragrant grilled scallops, grilled wagyu skewers, and large, sweet tamagoyaki.

We ate a big peach (called “momo” in Japan) and felt like the whole world turned into a sweet, pink, bright, and warm dessert. It was so delightful we had to buy another one to take back to our accommodation 🍑

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🛍️ Cute shopping at Shinsaibashi

If you love fashion, knick-knacks, or unnecessary but cute things, you must stroll Shinsaibashi! There are:
• Stationery shops (we even found pens with smiley faces!)
• Local brand clothing stores
• Japanese cosmetics shops
• Unique themed cafes like bear cafes, minimalist white cafes, and Kyoto-style green tea cafes

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🌇 Umeda Sky Building – The most romantic viewpoint

This building is very tall! Take the glass elevator to the top floor and walk the open Sky Walk to see a 360-degree view of Osaka city. At night, it’s the ultimate romance with sparkling city lights like an anime world.

If you go with someone you like, it’s very romantic.
If you go alone… you can still be romantic with yourself 😳💕

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🎀 From the heart… Osaka is a very “kind” city

This city doesn’t just welcome us with Japanese smiles but also with the smell of takoyaki, the sound of the Dotonbori river, and images of people living slowly but happily.

It’s a city that truly lets us “rest.”
Rest from tiredness, rest from thoughts, rest from sadness,
and refill our hearts with cuteness again.

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💌 A cute summary before ending the trip:

Osaka = Takoyaki + Smiles + Little alleys with the scent of green tea + Trains that run on time + Bright but comforting neon signs + Cartoon-like sweets + Small happiness that fills the heart

We will definitely come back.
Osaka… thank you for being this adorable 🧳💖🎌

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